Bethlen Almanac 2001 (Ligonier)

The Bethlen Home

CELEBRATING FLAG DAY AT THE BETHLEN HOME

For more than three-quarters of a century, members of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America have looked upon the Bethlen Home to provide ministry and service, first for orphans and subsequently for its elderly and infrrmed. Now in its 80th year, the Ligonier, Pennsylvania facility remains a beacon of hope. Those in need of its ministry and care have only to ask.

The mission of the Federation is simple, and very clear — that its members, as they are forced to battle age and declining health will never be alone, will not be forgotten, and never be without dignity. But

the Bethlen Home, too, is aging and becoming inadequate by increasing stringent standards established by the state to ensure the best of care for its residents.

“For many years now, the Bethlen Home that we’re living in has small rooms and the hallways are narrow,” said Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, Executive Director. “We provide excellent care, but the State, each year when they come in for their inspection, bring it to our attention that the building is below the current standards ... we’re able to operate based on waivers each year, but clearly we must build a new nursing home in order to continue our mission.”

So, on June 14 — Rag Day, appropriately — a progressive and concerned Board of Directors of the Bethlen Home entered into a new era. The Board took a significant step to build a new $ 12 million modem state-of-the art care facility by giving approval to Federation Acting Chairperson George Dózsa to execute a contract with a leading architectural firm to begin the design and planning stage.

A new Bethlen Home will be located on a part of the facility’s old farm that once provided food for the current facility. On its location at

Flag Day at the Bethlen Home is celebrated by the Board of Directors.

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